Kenneth P. Wright Jr. Kenneth P. Wright Jr., Ph.D. Department of Integrative Physiology University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309-0354 phone: 303-735-6409 fax: 303-492-4009 e-mail:kenneth.wright@colorado.edu

Research Interests

• The influence of sleep and circadian rhythms on human physiology (neuroendocrine, metabolic and immune function) and behavior (e.g., sleepiness, memory, mood, cognitive, and balance) with application to public health and safety.


• Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory.

Education

• 1986-1990, B.S. (Psychology), University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ


• 1991-1994, M.A., (Behavioral Neuroscience/Psychology) Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH


• 1994-1996, Ph.D. (Behavioral Neuroscience/Psychology) Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

Professional Experience

• 1989-1991, Research Assistant in Psychology, Sleep and Cognition Unit, Psychology Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, AZ.


• 1990-1991, Research Assistant in Psychology, Psychoneurophysiology Laboratory, Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.


• 1995-1997, Post-doctoral Faculty Fellow, Behavioral Neuroscience/Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, Psychology Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH.


• 1997-2000, Research Fellow in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Sleep Disorders Section, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.


• 2000-2001, Associate Neuroscientist, Division of Endocrinology, Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Sleep Disorders Section, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.


• 2000-2002, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.


• 2001-2002, Associate Neuroscientist, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.


• 2001-2002, Director, Fatigue Countermeasures Research Program, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.


• 2002-2003, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.


• 2003-2009, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.


• 2009-present, Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.


• 2009-Present, Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Honors and Awards

• 1996, Charles E. Shanklin Award for Research Excellence of the Bowling Green State University.


• 1997-2000, National Research Service Award (T32) - National Institutes of Health.


• 1998-2000, Distinction in Teaching; Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning; Harvard University.


• 1999-2001, Fellowship in Clinical and Community Health Research The Medical Foundation and Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust.


• 2000, Young Investigator Award, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Honorable mention.


• 2003, Young Investigator, William C. Dement Sleep and Chronobiology Apprenticeship, Brown University.


• 2005, J. Christian Gillin, M.D. Research Award, Sleep Research Society Foundation.


• 2007, Distinguished Service Award, Sleep Research Society.


• 2007, Marius Smith Award, University of Colorado Parents Association.

Recent Publications

• Drake CL, Wright KP Jr. Shift work, shift work disorder, and jet lag. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine 784-798, 2011.


• Frey DJ, Ortega JD, Wiseman C, Farley CT, Wright KP Jr. Influence of Zolpidem on balance and cognition during nighttime awakening: a randomized placebo controlled trial. Journal of the American Geriatric Society 59: 73-81, 2011.


• Grady S, Aeschbach D, Wright KP Jr, Czeisler CA. Effect of Modafinil on decrements of neurobehavioral performance associated with extended wakefulness and adverse circadian phase. Neuropsychopharmacology 35: 1910-1920, 2010.


• Jung CM, Melanson EL, Perreault L, Eckel RH, Wright KP Jr. Energy expenditure during sleep, sleep deprivation and sleep following sleep deprivation in humans. Journal of Physiology 589: 235-44. 2011.


• Jung CM, Khalsa SB, Scheer FAJL, Cajochen C, Lockley S, Czeisler CA, Wright KP Jr. Acute effects of bright light exposure on nighttime cortisol levels in humans. Journal of Biological Rhythms 25: 208-16, 2010.


• Jung CM, Ronda JM, Czeisler CA, Wright KP Jr. Comparison of sustained attention assessed by auditory and visual psychomotor vigilance tasks prior to and during sleep deprivation. Journal of Sleep Research 20: 348-55, 2011.


• Markwald RR, Lee-Chiong TL, Burke TM, Snider JA, Wright KP Jr. Effects of the melatonin MT-1/MT-2 agonist Ramelteon on daytime body temperature and sleep. Sleep 33: 825-831, 2010.


• Nguyen J, Wright KP Jr. Influence of sleep and wakefulness out of phase of internal biological time on the energy balance hormone leptin. Nature and Science of Sleep 2: 9-18, 2010.


• Zee PC, Wright KP Jr. Primary Care Update: Shift Work Disorder. Elsevier Inc. 5-24, 2010.


• Zee PC, Wang-Weigand D, Wright KP Jr, Peng X, Roth T. Effects of Ramelteon on insomnia symptoms induced by rapid, eastward travel. Sleep Medicine 11: 525-33, 2010.